Stuttering problem in Win7 upgrade notebook 1

[Rlah]

My 2 year old notebook is stuttering for about 5 seconds about every minute or so... mouse movements, video and/or audio playback stutter severely, etc.
I have watched what processes (in Task Manager and Process Explorer) are taking up CPU resources during these periods and nothing is showing up as obvious culprits. I've shut down a few unneeded program/processes running but so far nothing has helped.

I upgraded from Vista to Win7 in November. In early January, I upgraded from 2GB to 4GB RAM.

I suppose this could be a sticky problem... but has anyone else seen this problem? Any ideas how to track it down?

 

[linney]

Test from Safe Mode, and test from Normal Mode but with another user.

See if you can isolate the cause via these.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/929135

See if you have repeating errors in the Event Viewer.

Is your Video Card driver fully updated?

Have you tested your RAM for problems with the built-in memory tester?

Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool

http://www.vista4beginners.com/Windows-Memory-Diagnostics-Tool

 

[Rlah]

linney:
I'm a little embarrassed...
The quickest check I could do of your suggestions was the memory test. But not long after the diagnostic began, the computer shut off. So I figured the new 4GB Corsair memory must be bad. I put the factory 2GB sticks back in and tested playing some videos... no stuttering. But I decided to go further and test the factory memory with the Windows diagnostic. It went up to about 30% complete and then the computer shut down... hmmm. So I put the new 4GB sticks back in and tested some videos... no stuttering.

For now, I'm chalking this up to just needing a reboot. But all this leaves me with questions:
1) Is Win7 having problems with memory in general?
2) Will my computer develop a pattern of stuttering on a sporadic basis?

Only time will tell. Thx for your help!
rlah

 

[BadBigBen]

But not long after the diagnostic began, the computer shut off.

Sounds like a thermal issue...

suggestion: clean out the FAN and other easily accessible air intake holes...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[Rlah]

BadBigBen:
Thx for the followup. That sounds like a very good idea... it's had over 2 years of run-time and surely needs it.
After I do the clean-out, I'm going to have to also re-test Win7's problems with Hibernate and/or Sleep modes (I have a Toshiba P205 notebook). I used to use one of these power save modes with the old Vista overnight, but when I tried it after the upgrade, it crashed. I haven't attempted it since then... but now's the time to get back into this.

I'll report back about the results of the fan/intake cleanout on memory diagnostics. But I'll start a new thread if the Hibernate/Sleep problem is still there -- in some Hardware forum here.

rlah

 

[tf1]

Also make sure that the contacts for the memory look clean and undamaged. Have you tried using a different channel?


Regards: Terry